Category Manager

2 weeks ago


London Area, United Kingdom Talent Drive | B Corp™ Full time

Category Manager - Bakery


Location: Surrey or London (2 days a week)

Salary: £50,000 to £58,000 + Bonus + Benefits


Overview:

Are you a strategic and driven procurement professional looking to make a real impact in the food industry? We are looking for a Category Manager to lead the Bakery category, including desserts, and play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering procurement strategies that drive commercial value and enhance supplier relationships.


About the Role:

As a Category Manager for Bakery, you’ll have the chance to build and implement short, medium, and long-term category strategies that align with our broader organizational goals. You’ll be responsible for leading procurement and supplier management across the Bakery category, as well as collaborating with our partner Cuisine Centre to maximize synergies and unlock commercial value.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Category Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive category strategy to drive quality, cost efficiency, and innovation across the Bakery portfolio.
  • Supplier Relationship Management: Identify and nurture strong partnerships with existing and new suppliers, staying ahead of market trends to maintain a leading position.
  • Financial and Commercial Value: Achieve financial targets by managing budgets, inflation, debt, and fostering sustainable commercial relationships.
  • Quality & Compliance: Ensure all products comply with food safety regulations and sustainability standards while maintaining high quality.
  • Team Development: Mentor and support your team, cultivating a high-performing, motivated group of procurement professionals.
  • Market Influence: Attend industry events, communicate category insights internally, and collaborate with sales and bid teams to meet commercial targets.


Ideal Candidate Profile:

We’re looking for someone already established as a category buyer, ready to step into a more strategic role with a focus on Bakery procurement. You’ll bring a wealth of procurement experience, with strong analytical skills, excellent commercial insight, and a confident approach to negotiation.


Key Skills and Competencies:

  • Proven experience in procurement, ideally with knowledge of category management.
  • Excellent commercial acumen, with a results-driven approach to achieve targets.
  • Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills.
  • Analytical mindset and proficiency with procurement systems.
  • Passionate about sustainability, quality, and animal welfare.
  • Ability to lead, inspire, and motivate a team while fostering a collaborative environment.


Please apply via the link or email me directly on Brad@talentdrive.co.uk


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